One thing that can keep currently disconsolate Newcastle fans maybe just a little upbeat, is the youngsters we have at the club, and one of them in particular, 18 year-old Nile Ranger, is already starring for the England U19 team.
Nile Ranger – one for the future – the short term future?
The 6’2″ Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger, who has yet to make his first team debut, celebrated his full debut for the England Under-19s, with his first goal for the side, as England won 2-0 over Bosnia at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium last night.
Nile, who was quietly signed from Southampton in the summer, had a fantastic first season on Tyneside, scoring a cumulative 22 goals for the U18 and Reserve sides, under the guidance of Richard Money.
Add to that the fact he seems to just love it on Tyneside, and we coluld have a real winner here, especially when he now will hopefully be coached by one of England’s greatest ever strikers – Alan Shearer.
Last night’s game was the first of three Elite Qualifying Round matches to be played over the coming week ahead of this summer’s European Championships in the Ukraine.
England now face Slovakia at Bradford City’s Valley Parade on Friday before tackling Scotland at Bramall Lane on Monday night.
The goals from Danny Rose and Nile Ranger proved enough to secure three points and a perfect start for coach Brian Eastick, who said.
“It’s a case of job done and I think we deserved to win the game,”
“We played some very good football up to the edge of their box but they made it difficult and had numbers behind the ball, played narrow and looked to get us on the break.”
“We kept going though and made the breakthrough with what I thought as our first really good delivery into the box.”
“I was generally a bit disappointed with our set piece delivery, because we’ve looked dangerous in training but we didn’t transfer that to the game.”
It was two headed goals which won the game for England, the first through Danny Rose, who put in a stunning leap to guide home Nathan Delfouneso’s cross in the first half.
Then Newcastle striker Nile Ranger climbed above everybody to glance home a Victor Moses free kick in the latter stages of the second half, and was impressive in leading the England line.
Brian continued:
“It was a great leap by Danny for his goal, but he’s a terrific athlete and he’s enjoying his football again after missing a lot of the season,”
“And Nile deserved his goal too because I thought he led the line well.”
Praise indeed from Eastwick for the Newcastle young gun – the big question we have is will Nile start our first game in the Championship in August against Cardiff?
Nile will certainly be fighting foe a first team place – that’s for sure – now who was that Michael Owen guy?
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
Mikey25
May 28, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Comment #1Was just about to post this on one of the other posts!
Wow this lad is making all the right noises, under the guidance of Shearer he could be the number 9 weve been waiting for since the big Al left. Only ever seen the lad play once and he did look a class act, didnt score but had the confidence to run and shoot and came bloody close. Him and Lualua stood out for me that night as two that really do look the dogs danglies!
As much as it does hurt going down there is a tiny speck of light at the end of the tunnel….FA cup glory after going down would sure shut the critics up
Ed Harrison
May 28, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Comment #2Mikey25 – If Nile keeps up his progress he could well become a starter next season – maybe with Andy Carroll – the report on the FA site says he had impressive game leading the line and Eastick seems to have a high regard for him. I added some quotes from Eastick..
We need to get more youngsters in during this summer- for the future – and credit to Nile for sorting himself out since he arrived on Tyneside – he’s in good hands now with Shearer – and they’ll take good care of the lad – Nile seems a natural.
BT9MAG
May 28, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Comment #3Yeah Mikey – we have to turn this negative situation into a positive, and by playing the young lads and getting them pleanty experience in the championship that’s exactly what we could have!
Alanmc09
May 28, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Comment #4Ed-u said ‘i wonder will nile start in august against cardiff!
Are the fixtures out yet?
Geordie-Gerrard7
May 28, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Comment #5i see richard money recons vuckic is ready for the championship, i cant wait.
hitman
May 28, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Comment #6alanmc,the fixtures come oot on the 17th of june m8
dougnufc
May 28, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Comment #7Vuckic is only 16! And he is huge!
nufcben
May 28, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Comment #8geordie gerrard was just about to post, whats great (if its the right word ) that we got relegated is that it gives dum of the young lads ie kadar tozer lua lua ranger vucik all a chance to play for the club in the first team, rather than being shipped out on loan and forgetten about except for the odd report from a scout
Micky Toon
May 28, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Comment #9Let’s not get too carried away. Remember Owen and Rooney were playing in the England 1st team at 17. It’s why Owen is the way he is. He’s been full on for over ten years and he’s burned out.
ArtyH
May 28, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Comment #10Should have played in the last two games and we just may have got that one more point.
Geordie-Gerrard7
May 28, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Comment #11of all players im most excited by vuckic, as i have said before, i have spoke to ben tozer a few times recently, as he is a local lad and i often play golf with his old man, and they have both said vuckic could be world class, also nile is going to be england pedigree, he hasd also told me of his amaisment of young jonjo shelvey and they both compared him to a young stevie g.
dognufc- yeah mate vuckic is huge, he is at the same stature of young macheda
Whumpie
May 28, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Comment #12What’s the latest on some of our other promising younguns – Doninger, Godsmark, Tozer? Godsmark was on about 6 goals in 4 games at one point – not bad for a midfielder.
BUT let’s not get carried away – we need to put hardened, wiley old gits next to these kids or they will get beaten to death in the fizzy league.
Micky Toon
May 28, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Comment #13Haven’t Doninger and Godsmark been let go?
Paul141726
May 28, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Comment #14I hope Ranger is the real deal. He certainly seems to be. I worry a little about him starting to believe all the press and become another of those “players who show promise” but turn into jerks. That said, I think he can become a shining star in our over-hauled squad in the coming season, especially if our staff can continue developing him as they seem to be doing. Here’s hoping! HTL
Tom_Toon
May 29, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Comment #15Macheda aint built at all, just looks old.
Godsmark as been let go, Doninger aint.
Nile Ranger > Andy Carroll.